Protecting Our Economy and Restoring Growth to the Job Market

In 2008, our nation was shaken by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The livelihoods of hard-working families in Hawaiʻi and across the country were put at risk; millions of Americans lost their homes, and many saw their life savings wiped out – all because of risky banking practices by “too big to fail” banks. The banks that were ‘too big to fail’ in 2008 are even bigger today. And while our economy has slowly started to come back from this devastating economic crisis, our nation’s economic health remains at risk. We must ensure that no bank is so big that its risky bets can bring down the entire U.S. economy.

Raise the Minimum Wage
In Hawaiʻi and across the country, far too many people are working one or two full-time minimum wage jobs, living in poverty, and barely scraping by. The federal minimum wage has fallen far behind inflation and has actually lost value over time, meaning working families are making less while paying more just to make ends meet. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is an original cosponsor of the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024 and index the minimum wage to the median wage growth thereafter. The federal minimum wage has stagnated for the last 10 years, and it is long overdue for Congress to do the right thing for hard-working Americans and raise the minimum wage.

Break up the Big Banks and Hold Wall Street Accountable for Their Risky Investments
We must create a banking system that works for every American—not just Wall Street CEOs—and enact and strengthen reforms that will protect our economy from another massive collapse. Tulsi is a cosponsor of legislation such as the Return to Prudent Banking Act and the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act to help protect Americans from big banks’ roll of the financial dice. To help ensure the financial stability of our nation, Tulsi is continuing to fight against dangerous behavior on Wall Street where investors take big risks on the backs of American taxpayers. She has urged criminal investigations of Wall Street executives who take money from American taxpayers, such as what recently happened with Wells Fargo, the nation’s largest “too big to fail” bank.

“I will always fight against the schemes of Wall Street to make risky investments on the backs of American taxpayers.” -Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

Video of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes Against Increasing Big Bank Risk

Promoting Economic and Job Growth in Hawai‘i
Our tourism industry is the main driver of Hawai‘i’s economy and creates opportunity for small businesses to grow on every island. Tulsi is continuing to work with federal, state, and county leaders on opening airports for direct international travel, which will help support those local economies. She has also worked to keep air travel taxes and fees as low as possible for people in Hawaiʻi and introduced the Passenger Fee Restructuring Exemptions Act to limit the passenger security fee for Hawaiʻi, Alaska and rural areas that rely solely on air travel for basic transportation. As a member of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, Tulsi is working to diversify the economic drivers and job creators within the state by welcoming new industries, supporting our local film and TV industry, investing in our aging infrastructure, and encouraging innovative entrepreneurs who are working to make Hawaiʻi as a start-up paradise.

More on Protecting Our Economy and Restoring Growth to the Job Market

Honolulu, HI – Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today announced that she is accepting submissions from Hawai‘i middle and high school students for the 2019 Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a nationwide app competition.

Washington, DC—Yesterday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) introduced H.R. 3885, the Wall Street Banker Accountability for Misconduct Act, which would require senior executives at Wall Street’s biggest banks to defer a portion of their compensation to be held for 10 years to be used to pay penalties for violations occurring on their watch.

Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) joined a coalition of over 160 lawmakers in introducing legislation that would create a national paid family and medical leave program. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, known as the FAMILY Act, would ensure that every American worker can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for a pregnancy or the birth or adoption of a child, to recover from a serious illness, or to care for a seriously ill family member.

Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today voted to pass a bipartisan package that would immediately re-open the government and pay federal employees. The package is based on legislation previously negotiated between House and Senate Republicans and Democrats prior to the government shutdown and includes $1.6 billion for key border security initiatives. The legislation passed by a vote of 234-180.